A visionary program

VIDEO: Camp I-CAN for blind or visually impaired kids

The Center for Vision Loss in Allentown is hosting Camp I-CAN for visually-impaired and blind children this summer. The camp¿s goal is to teach the kids life skills, socialization, and mobility training.

The Center for Vision Loss in Allentown is hosting Camp I-CAN for visually-impaired and blind children this summer. The camp¿s goal is to teach the kids life skills, socialization, and mobility training.

Jennifer Sheehan, Of The Morning Call

In his first 10 minutes at Jordan Lanes in Whitehall Township, Stefan Quinones of Allentown bowled three strikes.

Spares proved to be a bit more difficult. "I'm no good at spares," the 14-year-old says.

Quinones, who has vision loss, was bowling as part of Camp I CAN, a two-week summer day camp run by The Center for Vision Loss and co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services. The camp, designed for visually impaired and blind children ages 7-14, is being held at the agency's offices on West Wyoming Street in Allentown.

This is the first summer camp held by the center, a nonprofit agency dedicated to improving the lives of people with vision loss and promoting healthy vision. Five local children are in the camp, which wraps up this week.

While it's disguised as summer fun, the camp's goal is to teach life skills, socialization and mobility training.

"We're sneaking in the educational component," says Karen Huetter, development director at the center.

The campers are learning to fold money (a way for the visually impaired to be able to discern denominations), help around the house, prepare food and be safe in the kitchen.

Rita Lang, camp director and the center's manager of innovative programs, says lessons are tailored to each child's visual strengths and weaknesses.

"We want the kids to come away with a positive self-image and confident in who they are," she says.

Mobility, or being able to navigate through the world, is a crucial skill campers are learning.

On the first day, Lang says campers took part in a beach-themed scavenger hunt at the center, designed to give them the lay of the land. Campers used their auditory skills to hunt.

"They followed the sounds to each item," Lang says.

Activities outside the center have included a visit to Trout Creek Park for to play, a visit to the Lehigh Valley Zoo and an excursion for a picnic lunch.

The camp includes serious discussions about living life with a disability.

One day focused on self-esteem. As the campers sat in a circle, Lang asked about their interests and special talents.

Deven Phillips, 14, of Nazareth, is a budding rapper. He is inspired by Eminem, the rap star from Detroit.

Deven shared two of his songs, one of which was called "What's the Difference?" The song addresses visual impairment.

"It's just the way of the world," Deven raps in the song.

Then campers gathered to create books about themselves.

Makayla Mark, 8, of Catasauqua, took her time printing carefully in her book. She wrote about her family and her friends.

On a page with the title "What I Want to Be When I Grow Up," Makayla wrote carefully her dream:

"I want to be a teacher who teaches children who are visually impaired or blind."